editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Carrie Johnson is a Justice Correspondent for the Washington Desk. She covers a wide variety of stories about justice issues, law enforcement and legal affairs for NPR's flagship programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered , as well as the Newscasts and NPR.org. While in this role, Johnson has chronicled major challenges to the landmark voting rights law, a botched law enforcement operation targeting gun traffickers along the Southwest border, and the Obama administration's deadly drone program for suspected terrorists overseas. Prior to coming to NPR in 2010, Johnson worked at the Washington Post for 10 years, where she closely observed the FBI, the Justice Department and criminal trials of the former leaders of Enron, HealthSouth and Tyco. Earlier in her career, she wrote about courts for the weekly publication Legal Times . Outside of her role at NPR, Johnson regularly moderates or appears on legal panels for the American Bar Association, the American Constitution Society,NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Carrie JohnsonTue, 08 Aug 2017 18:31:58 +0000Carrie Johnsonhttp://wfae.org
Carrie JohnsonThe Justice Department has experienced an "explosion" in the number of referrals, or requests for probes, this year from intelligence agencies over the leak of classified information, prompting the attorney general to consider whether to loosen regulations on when it can subpoena media organizations. Attorney General Jeff Sessions condemned the "staggering" number of leaks and reported that the number of active investigations into the unauthorized disclosure of national security information has tripled in 2017. He said authorities would take strong measures to stop "the culture of leaking." "I have this message for would-be leakers," Sessions said at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, "don't do it." The Justice Department said it was adopting a new approach after hearing complaints from career lawyers and FBI agents about the slow pace of leak probes. Authorities are evaluating how to streamline those investigations. That includes, they said, policies that require highDOJ Announces Crackdown On Leaks As Intelligence Agencies' Calls For Probes Triplehttp://wfae.org/post/doj-announces-crackdown-leaks-referrals-intelligence-agencies-triple
120866 as http://wfae.orgFri, 04 Aug 2017 16:51:00 +0000DOJ Announces Crackdown On Leaks As Intelligence Agencies' Calls For Probes TripleCarrie JohnsonDeputy White House counsel Gregory Katsas is the leading candidate for a judgeship in one of the most important federal appeals courts in the nation, NPR has learned. While the White House has not yet named its pick for the seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, a Katsas nomination would open the door to confirmation hearings that could plumb a series of legal controversies from the first six months of the Trump administration. Katsas, 52, appears to want the post and it may be his for the taking, according to three legal sources familiar with the vacancy. Katsas ran the Justice Department's Civil Division during the George W. Bush presidency. Earlier, he served as executive editor of the Harvard Law Review and clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas during his first year on the Supreme Court. Katsas' White House biography says he's argued more than 75 appeals including cases in the high court and "every federal appellate court." But it's Katsas' work for President TrumpWhite House Lawyer Is Top Pick For Open Court Seat, And Controversy Could Followhttp://wfae.org/post/white-house-lawyer-top-pick-open-court-seat-and-controversy-could-follow
120383 as http://wfae.orgFri, 28 Jul 2017 19:34:00 +0000White House Lawyer Is Top Pick For Open Court Seat, And Controversy Could FollowCarrie JohnsonThomas Wheeler, who has been leading the Justice Department's civil rights unit, informed staffers there Thursday that he would be leaving the post, according to two sources familiar with the communication. The job put Wheeler, an Indiana lawyer who is personally and professionally close to Vice President Pence, in the middle of a number of controversies, including the Trump administration's turnaround on guidance regarding transgender students, the decisions to close investigations of police officers without criminal charges and shifting legal positions on voting rights and other cases. During his short tenure, Wheeler made fighting hate crimes a priority. In May, he said, "Any serious effort to combat violent crime in America must include hate crimes." He highlighted a series of prosecutions this year alone, including the conviction of a Tennessee man in February for plotting to attack a mosque and Muslim community in upstate New York, the sentencing of an Idaho man for beating a gayTop Lawyer For Civil Rights At Justice Department Leaving After Roughly 6 Monthshttp://wfae.org/post/top-lawyer-civil-rights-justice-department-leaving-after-roughly-6-months
120356 as http://wfae.orgFri, 28 Jul 2017 15:03:00 +0000Top Lawyer For Civil Rights At Justice Department Leaving After Roughly 6 MonthsCarrie JohnsonCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: So what's it like to work in the Justice Department when your boss is under attack by his boss? That is the reality this week as President Trump continues denouncing Attorney General Jeff Sessions. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that does not mean Trump is going to fire Sessions. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: He can be disappointed in someone but still want them to continue to do their job. And that's where they are. INSKEEP: Although, the president has made many an unexpected decision. NPR justice correspondent Carrie Johnson is on the line. Hi, Carrie. CARRIE JOHNSON, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve. INSKEEP: What are you hearing from people inside the Justice Department, which you've covered for so long? JOHNSON: Well, morale is not great, especially at the highest levels of the DOJ. It's got to be a distraction when every morning you're wondering what your boss might beTrump Continues To Publicly Attack Sessionshttp://wfae.org/post/trump-continues-publicly-attack-sessions
120260 as http://wfae.orgThu, 27 Jul 2017 11:45:00 +0000Trump Continues To Publicly Attack SessionsCarrie JohnsonThe debate over whether the president of the United States can be charged with a crime is as old as the country itself. Early evidence comes from the diary of a Pennsylvania senator, who recorded "a heated debate on this very issue" in September 1789, said Hofstra University Law School professor Eric Freedman. "For those who believe in original intent, we have pretty good evidence of original intent," Freedman said. "The founders just disagreed on the very question." The words of the Constitution aren't much help either. It talks about impeachment, removing a president from office. But the document is vague on the issue of whether a president can be indicted while he holds the office. "We tend to talk about it as one big on-off switch," explained Harvard Law School professor Andrew Crespo. "But, really, the question ought to be: Can he be investigated, can he be indicted, can he be made to stand trial, can he be sentenced? And the burdens imposed by each of those steps of the process'White House Arrest?' Legal Experts Disagree About Prosecuting A Presidenthttp://wfae.org/post/white-house-arrest-legal-experts-disagree-about-prosecuting-president
119733 as http://wfae.orgTue, 18 Jul 2017 20:05:00 +0000'White House Arrest?' Legal Experts Disagree About Prosecuting A PresidentCarrie JohnsonCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: President Trump offered support for his eldest son, Donald Jr., who has put himself in the middle of investigations over Russian interference in last year's election. Last night, Trump Jr. appeared on Fox News to explain his meeting with a Russian lawyer. And this morning, the president tweeted his review. Quote, "my son Donald did a good job last night. He was open, transparent and innocent. This is the greatest witch hunt in political history. Sad, exclamation point." That transparency includes a bombshell email release that confirms Trump Jr., a campaign manager and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with a Russian lawyer last year. They expected to get information that would help the Trump campaign win the White House. On the line now, NPR Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson - good morning, Carrie. CARRIE JOHNSON, BYLINE: Good morning, Rachel. MARTIN: This has spurred a lot of debate about if Donald Trump Jr. broke any lawsDonald Trump Jr. Admits To Meeting With Russian Lawyerhttp://wfae.org/post/donald-trump-jr-admits-meeting-russian-lawyer
119311 as http://wfae.orgWed, 12 Jul 2017 08:54:00 +0000Donald Trump Jr. Admits To Meeting With Russian LawyerCarrie JohnsonIf Senate Republicans get their way, former Justice Department lawyer Christopher Wray will soon become the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, recently told reporters he hopes the nomination will "not languish" and said it's his plan to get Wray confirmed before the August congressional recess. But before any votes take place, Wray will have to face a series of questions about his background — and his backbone. 1. Will you be loyal to the justice system or to the president? Lawmakers from both political parties said they plan to ask Wray about his independence from the White House, and whether President Trump has asked him for loyalty. That's always a sensitive issue when it comes to federal law enforcement. But after FBI Director James Comey testified that the president had demanded his loyalty, and eventually fired him with seven years to go on his 10-year term, safeguarding the independence of the FBI and its5 Questions For FBI Director Nominee Christopher Wrayhttp://wfae.org/post/five-questions-fbi-director-nominee-christopher-wray
119301 as http://wfae.orgWed, 12 Jul 2017 08:00:00 +00005 Questions For FBI Director Nominee Christopher WrayCarrie JohnsonChristopher Wray's friends and mentors use one word to describe him: steady. That trait could come in handy at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where employees have been reeling since President Trump fired Director James Comey two months ago. Wray, 50, has spent years working in and around the U.S. Justice Department, making national security policy and overseeing cases against corrupt business executives. But he's operated outside the spotlight, by design. Taking a job where his predecessor was dismissed under questionable circumstances and with miles to go on his 10-year term is a bit out of character. But Michael Luttig, who's known Wray for decades, said he's making the right choice. "Chris is exactly the person both the country and the FBI need at this time in our history," said Luttig, a former federal appeals court judge who hired Wray to serve as his law clerk. "Chris is fiercely independent; he is a man of unquestioned integrity, and he has impeccable judgment." SenatorsFBI Director Nominee Christopher Wray Could Help Steady The Bureau Amid Turmoilhttp://wfae.org/post/fbi-director-nominee-christopher-wray-could-help-steady-bureau-amid-turmoil
119257 as http://wfae.orgTue, 11 Jul 2017 15:10:00 +0000FBI Director Nominee Christopher Wray Could Help Steady The Bureau Amid TurmoilCarrie JohnsonCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit LAKSHMI SINGH, HOST: This week, President Trump's pick to lead the FBI will get a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill. Christopher Wray is a former Justice Department official. When he appears before the Senate judiciary committee Wednesday, he'll have to navigate questions about his history in law enforcement and his independence from the White House. With us to talk more about the FBI nominee is NPR justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. Hi, Carrie. CARRIE JOHNSON, BYLINE: Hi there. SINGH: Who is Christopher Wray? JOHNSON: Well, President Trump announced his choice in a surprise tweet last month. Trump says Chris Wray is a man of impeccable credentials. Wray played a big, if understated, role in the George W. Bush Justice Department. He was a top aide to the deputy attorney general, kind of ran the show and made sure the trains ran on time. Then later, he was confirmed by the Senate to lead the criminal division at Justice, where he supervisedTrump's FBI Director Pick Faces Confirmation Hearinghttp://wfae.org/post/trumps-fbi-director-pick-faces-confirmation-hearing
119156 as http://wfae.orgSun, 09 Jul 2017 21:32:00 +0000Trump's FBI Director Pick Faces Confirmation HearingCarrie JohnsonRobert Mueller has made no public comment since he was named to lead the Department of Justice investigation into Russian interference in last year's election. Instead, he has let his actions do the talking. The former FBI director and decorated U.S. Marine has submitted a budget and quietly hired an all-star team that includes 15 Justice Department prosecutors. And, a spokesman for Mueller said, he's not done bringing on new lawyers. That has gotten the attention of supporters of President Trump, who recently made an attack ad calling the investigation a "rigged game" and blasting the special counsel for hiring at least four lawyers who have donated to Democrats. But don't expect Mueller to mount a defense. He does his talking in the courtroom, not on social media. In fact, Mueller recently got a nod of support from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who said he didn't think political donations amounted to a conflict of interest. Mueller has not described the scope of what his team willSpecial Counsel Mueller Lets His Actions Do The Talking: 15 Hires, More to Comehttp://wfae.org/post/special-counsel-mueller-lets-his-actions-do-talking-15-hires-more-come
119103 as http://wfae.orgSat, 08 Jul 2017 11:00:00 +0000Special Counsel Mueller Lets His Actions Do The Talking: 15 Hires, More to ComeCarrie JohnsonFive years ago, the Justice Department concluded that juvenile courts in Memphis, Tenn., failed to give due process to children. Civil rights investigators uncovered significant racial disparities , and they reached a deal to fix some of those failings. Now, local officials are asking to terminate federal oversight. They're making their pitch to Justice Department leaders, who have a very different view of civil rights enforcement from the previous administration. When the new Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited Memphis a few weeks ago, he heard an earful from local officials over the breakfast table. Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell told the attorney general that it's time to end expensive federal oversight of the juvenile courts. Because, he said, they've already done a lot of heavy lifting. Public defenders now represent 60 percent of the kids who appear in court, up from none five years ago. The controversy in Memphis represents part of a much larger debate. President Trump and'Let Local People Solve Local Problems,' Memphis Says In Bid To End DOJ Oversighthttp://wfae.org/post/let-local-people-solve-local-problems-memphis-says-bid-end-doj-oversight
118887 as http://wfae.orgWed, 05 Jul 2017 09:05:00 +0000'Let Local People Solve Local Problems,' Memphis Says In Bid To End DOJ OversightCarrie JohnsonJohn Huber is a career prosecutor in Utah who's served in both Democratic and Republican administrations. This month, the Trump White House nominated him to serve as a U.S. attorney in that state. But it came as something of a surprise to current and former Justice Department veterans Wednesday when Huber appeared for a news conference in Washington: not in the halls of Justice, but at the White House podium. Huber and the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the platform to advocate for the passage of House bills that increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who break the law and jurisdictions that refuse to share information with federal immigration authorities. "Kate's Law enhances our ability to stem the tide of criminals who seem to almost always return to victimize us," Huber told the reporters assembled in the briefing room. He added: "Forty percent of my felony caseload in Utah are criminal alien prosecutions. If it's a problem in Utah, it's a problem forToo Close For Comfort: Insiders Worry About DOJ Lawyers Speaking At White Househttp://wfae.org/post/too-close-comfort-insiders-worry-about-doj-lawyers-speaking-white-house
118584 as http://wfae.orgThu, 29 Jun 2017 19:19:00 +0000Too Close For Comfort: Insiders Worry About DOJ Lawyers Speaking At White HouseCarrie JohnsonRunning the Justice Department presents a challenge in any administration. But the Trump era is different. In just five months, Justice leaders have been under heavy pressure, on everything from the travel ban to the Russia investigation. And one man, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, is bearing the weight. Here's something you need to know about Rosenstein: He's worked at the Justice Department for his entire career, nearly 27 years. Last year, Rosenstein told NPR the advice he gives younger lawyers. "That the most important part of their job is to protect the brand," he said. "You know, it's important to win cases, it's important to solve crimes, but it's more important that we maintain public confidence in the Department of Justice." Protecting the brand has gotten a lot more difficult. The Trump administration has shaken the foundations of federal law enforcement. First, the attorney general recused himself from the investigation into Russian influence in last year'sRosenstein Says Most Important Part Of The Job Is To Maintain Public Confidencehttp://wfae.org/post/rosenstein-says-most-important-part-job-maintain-public-confidence
118052 as http://wfae.orgWed, 21 Jun 2017 12:15:00 +0000Rosenstein Says Most Important Part Of The Job Is To Maintain Public ConfidenceCarrie JohnsonCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Back here in Washington, the long-awaited testimony from fired FBI Director James Comey may be over, but the reverberations are certainly not. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday. Sessions wants to respond to some of the questions Comey raised about his conduct. On the line to talk about all this is NPR justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. Hi, Carrie. CARRIE JOHNSON, BYLINE: Hi, Rachel. MARTIN: Jeff Sessions was supposed to be testifying this week about the Justice Department budget. Over the weekend, he announced a change. How come? JOHNSON: Well, the attorney general says fired FBI Director James Comey said a lot of things about him last week to the Senate intelligence committee. Sessions wants a chance to respond - questions about whether the FBI was in possession of some facts about Sessions in Russia that would make it clear Sessions would have to recuseComey Testimony Reverberates Across Washington, D.C.http://wfae.org/post/comey-testimony-reverberates-across-washington-dc
117446 as http://wfae.orgMon, 12 Jun 2017 11:37:00 +0000Comey Testimony Reverberates Across Washington, D.C.Carrie JohnsonThe Trump White House had been considering Robert Mueller as a top candidate to lead the FBI before the deputy U.S. attorney general changed course and tapped Mueller to serve as special counsel investigating Russian interference in last year's election, two sources familiar with the process told NPR. Mueller had gone so far as to meet with Justice Department leaders and White House officials about the FBI job, which opened after President Trump fired Director James Comey on May 9. But that idea went by the wayside after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein instead reached out to Mueller to run the politically sensitive Russia probe, which is examining ties between Russians and Trump campaign aides, the sources said. Mueller has long been considered one of Washington's most indispensable men. He served in top roles at the Justice Department and became President George W. Bush's FBI director only days before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks devastated the country. President Barack ObamaSpecial Counsel Robert Mueller Had Been On White House Shortlist To Run FBIhttp://wfae.org/post/special-counsel-robert-mueller-had-been-white-house-short-list-run-fbi
117345 as http://wfae.orgFri, 09 Jun 2017 20:39:00 +0000Special Counsel Robert Mueller Had Been On White House Shortlist To Run FBICarrie JohnsonCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: One month after he was fired, former FBI Director James Comey is finally ready to tell his side of the story. Comey is testifying to the Senate intelligence committee later today. In an early preview of his remarks, Comey says President Trump asked him to lift the cloud of the Russia investigation and specifically to ease off on then-ousted former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn. NPR justice correspondent Carrie Johnson joins us now. Good morning, Carrie. CARRIE JOHNSON, BYLINE: Good morning, Rachel. MARTIN: So we get this unusual preview of Comey's testimony yesterday when the Senate intelligence committee released the prepared statement Comey's going to give. What stood out to you as you read through it? JOHNSON: Well, Comey describes five meetings or one-on-one conversations he had with Donald Trump, suggesting he was under pressure from the president even before the inauguration. It all began with a session at TrumpA Month After He Was Fired, Comey Will Tell His Side Of The Storyhttp://wfae.org/post/month-after-he-was-fired-comey-will-tell-his-side-story
117247 as http://wfae.orgThu, 08 Jun 2017 11:43:00 +0000A Month After He Was Fired, Comey Will Tell His Side Of The StoryCarrie JohnsonTV networks have deployed countdown clocks. People are tweeting about places to watch and whether they'll offer morning cocktail specials. Congressional aides report that demand for seats inside the Senate hearing room has reached levels not seen for decades. Anticipation is building for testimony from fired FBI Director James Comey, not least in the White House, where the president and his aides worry the telegenic former law enforcement leader could inflict both political and legal wounds. What Comey might say Friends and associates of the former FBI director described Comey as shocked that news of his firing came from a television screen, while he was speaking to agents in California last month. Just three years into a 10-year-term, Comey's associates said he had no inkling he was on the verge of losing his job, especially not while the Bureau was in the middle of investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential contest. Comey did, however, have an uneasy feeling aboutCountdown Clocks, Morning Cocktails As Former FBI Director Prepares To Testifyhttp://wfae.org/post/countdown-clocks-morning-cocktails-former-fbi-director-prepares-testify
117143 as http://wfae.orgWed, 07 Jun 2017 09:36:00 +0000Countdown Clocks, Morning Cocktails As Former FBI Director Prepares To TestifyCarrie JohnsonFor nearly four years now, an unusual coalition of Republicans and Democrats has worked to reduce mandatory prison terms for many federal drug crimes. But that bipartisan movement may be shallower than it appears. Indeed, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who both supported a cut-back on some drug punishments, are preparing a bill that would create tough new penalties for people caught with synthetic opioid drugs. Grassley chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Feinstein is the panel's ranking member. A draft of the legislation reviewed by NPR suggests the plan would give the attorney general a lot more power to ban all kinds of synthetic drugs, since criminals often change the recipe to evade law enforcement. It would impose a 10-year maximum sentence on people caught selling them as a first offense. That would double if they do it again. Michael Collins of the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for lighter punishmentsLawmakers Consider Tough New Penalties For Opioid Crimes, Bucking Trendhttp://wfae.org/post/lawmakers-consider-tough-new-penalties-opioid-crimes-bucking-trend
117137 as http://wfae.orgTue, 06 Jun 2017 22:14:00 +0000Lawmakers Consider Tough New Penalties For Opioid Crimes, Bucking TrendCarrie JohnsonFour months into the Trump administration, the president's lawyer needs a lawyer. Intensifying investigations into Russian interference in last year's presidential election and ties between Russians and the Trump campaign have a lot of high-profile people in search of legal advice, if only out of an abundance of caution. And, two sources tell NPR, one of them is White House counsel Donald McGahn. Experts said it is natural that McGahn would seek out legal expertise; he served as the lawyer for President Trump's campaign, which has come under scrutiny from the FBI and Congress. This week, Trump himself reportedly enlisted New York lawyer Marc Kasowitz , a self-described "tough guy" corporate litigator, to help him with legal issues related to Russia. Several other figures inside and outside the White House have been lawyering up, expecting to be called as witnesses, even before the Justice Department named former FBI chief Robert Mueller to be special counsel for the agency's RussiaTop White House Lawyer Donald McGahn Sits At The Center Of Controversyhttp://wfae.org/post/donald-mcgahn-top-lawyer-white-house-sits-center-controversy
116414 as http://wfae.orgFri, 26 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000Top White House Lawyer Donald McGahn Sits At The Center Of ControversyCarrie JohnsonAttorney General Jeff Sessions is narrowing the scope of an executive order on so-called sanctuary cities. A federal judge in California last month blocked a key part of that order, reasoning that the Trump administration had overstepped by threatening to yank federal money from those places. In the new memo, the attorney general defines the cities narrowly — as places that "willfully refuse to comply" with federal law. Sessions also made clear the threats apply only to a modest pool of grants administered by the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security, not the entire stream of U.S. funding for states and localities. That point figured prominently in the recent ruling by federal Judge William Orrick, who wrote: "Federal funding that bears no meaningful relationship to immigration enforcement cannot be threatened merely because a jurisdiction chooses an immigration-enforcement strategy of which the president disapproves." Sessions recently notified severalJustice Department Narrows Scope Of 'Sanctuary Cities' Executive Orderhttp://wfae.org/post/justice-department-narrows-scope-sanctuary-cities-executive-order
116155 as http://wfae.orgMon, 22 May 2017 22:00:00 +0000Justice Department Narrows Scope Of 'Sanctuary Cities' Executive Order